Copper Fox Metals Inc. Schaft Creek Project: Land and Resource Use Baseline
Rescan™ Tahltan Environmental Consultants Sixth Floor - 1111 West Hastings Street Vancouver, BC Canada V6E 2J3 Tel: (604) 689-9460 Fax: (604) 687-4277 May 2010 SCHAFT CREEK PROJECT: Land and Resource Use Baseline
May 2010 Project #1039-001-14
Prepared for:
Copper Fox Metals Inc.
Prepared by:
Rescan™ Tahltan Environmental Consultants Vancouver, British Columbia
Citation: Rescan™ Tahltan Environmental Consultants (RTEC). 2010. Schaft Creek Project: Land and Resource Use Baseline . Prepared for Copper Fox Metals Inc. May 2010.
SCHAFT CREEK PROJECT: LAND AND RESOURCE USE BASELINE
Executive Summary
Executive Summary
The proposed Schaft Creek Project is located in an area with a number of overlapping land use activities and tenures. Many of these activities - including guide outfitting, commercial recreation, and First Nations land use - value the area for its remote, wilderness characteristics. Others, such as mineral developers, may have different priorities. The Project also lies within the asserted traditional territory of the Tahltan Nation, a First Nation with its own goals and objectives regarding the development and/or preservation of the natural landscape.
Overall, development objectives of the land and resources have been established by the Cassiar Iskut- Stikine Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP), which generally supports mineral development, subject to environmental standards and regulations. In addition, the Tahltan Nation is also developing a land management plan for their territory.
In recognition of the dependency of many land use activities (e.g., hunting) on the nature of the biophysical environment (e.g., wildlife), the land and resource use study area covers the extent of the biophysical study area for the proposed Schaft Creek Project. Table 1 identifies the land use interests identified within this area.
Table 1. Land Use Interests Related to the Proposed Schaft Creek Project
Parks and protected areas The proposed mine site is located approximately 15 km from the southwest corner of the Mt. Edziza Provincial Park, while the Galore Creek Access Road is located across the river from the Iskut Hot Springs Provincial Park. Mineral exploration and development The proposed Schaft Creek Project would share an access road with the proposed Galore Creek Project. Other exploration projects in the vicinity of Schaft Creek include KSM, Bruckjack, Mt. Dunn, Bronson Slope, and Trek. Guide outfitting The majority of Project infrastructure is located within the guide outfitting licence held by Northwest Ranching & Outfitting. Other licences overlapping the peripheral of the study area are held by Misty Mountain Outfitters, Golden Bear Outfitting, and Kinaskan Lake Outfitters. Traplines The majority of Project infrastructure is located within the trapline licence held by Ken Cottrell. In total, eight trapline territories overlap the study area. Other tenures Other land use interests include water licences, angling guides, grazing/range tenures, cabins, commercial recreation, forestry, transportation, and tourism. Tahltan land use The Tahltan Nation values the study area for a variety of subsistence and cultural activities, including hunting, trapping, fishing, and plant harvests.
COPPER FOX METALS INC. i SCHAFT CREEK PROJECT: LAND AND RESOURCE USE BASELINE
Table of Contents
SCHAFT CREEK PROJECT: LAND AND RESOURCE USE BASELINE
Table of Contents
Executive Summary ...... i Table of Contents ...... iii List of Figures ...... v List of Tables ...... v
Glossary and Abbreviations...... vii 1. Introduction ...... 1-1 1.1 Schaft Creek Project Summary ...... 1-1 1.2 REGIONAL CONTEXT ...... 1-9 1.3 Land and Resource Use Study Objectives ...... 1-9 2. Study Area and Methodology ...... 2-1 2.1 Study Area ...... 2-1 2.2 Methodology ...... 2-1 3. Land Management ...... 3-1 3.1 Cassiar Iskut-Stikine LRMP ...... 3-1 3.1.1 General Management Directions ...... 3-1 3.1.1.1 Access Management ...... 3-1 3.1.1.2 Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health ...... 3-2 3.1.1.3 Botanical Forest Products and Medicinal Plants ...... 3-3 3.1.1.4 Cultural Heritage Resources ...... 3-4 3.1.1.5 Hunting, Trapping, Guide Outfitting and Fishing ...... 3-4 3.1.1.6 Mineral and Energy Resources ...... 3-4 3.1.1.7 Recreation and Tourism ...... 3-5 3.1.1.8 Settlement, Agriculture and Range ...... 3-5 3.1.1.9 Timber ...... 3-6 3.1.1.10 Visual Quality ...... 3-6 3.1.2 Area-Specific Management ...... 3-7 3.2 Rural Land Use Bylaws ...... 3-9 3.3 Parks and Protected Areas ...... 3-10 3.3.1 Mt. Edziza Provincial Park ...... 3-10 3.3.2 Iskut River Hot Springs Provincial Park ...... 3-10 3.3.3 Other Protected Areas ...... 3-11 4. Mineral Exploration and Development ...... 4-1
COPPER FOX METALS INC. iii SCHAFT CREEK PROJECT: LAND AND RESOURCE USE BASELINE
4.1 Galore Creek ...... 4-1 4.2 Red Chris ...... 4-1 4.3 Other Exploration Projects ...... 4-1 4.4 Historical Exploration Sites ...... 4-1 4.5 Northwest Transmission Line ...... 4-2 5. Hunting ...... 5-1 5.1 Guide Outfitting...... 5-1 5.1.1 Northwest Ranching and Outfitting ...... 5-1 5.1.1.1 Outfitting Activities ...... 5-1 5.1.1.2 Environmental Concerns ...... 5-5 5.1.1.3 Livelihood Concerns ...... 5-5 5.1.2 Misty Mountain Outfitters ...... 5-6 5.1.3 Golden Bear Outfitting ...... 5-6 5.1.4 Kinaskan Lake Outfitters ...... 5-7 5.2 Resident Hunting ...... 5-7 5.3 Harvest Statistics ...... 5-8 5.3.1 Grizzly ...... 5-8 5.3.2 Sheep ...... 5-9 5.3.3 Mountain Goat...... 5-9 5.3.4 Moose ...... 5-9 6. Trapping ...... 6-1 6.1 Traplines ...... 6-1 6.1.1 TR0621 T006 ...... 6-1 6.1.2 TR0621 T005 ...... 6-3 6.1.3 TR0620 T001 ...... 6-3 6.1.4 Other Traplines ...... 6-3 6.2 Harvest Statistics ...... 6-3
7. Other Land and Resource Use ...... 7-1 7.1 Water Resources ...... 7-1 7.2 Angling ...... 7-1 7.3 Grazing ...... 7-1 7.4 Cabins ...... 7-1 7.5 Commercial Recreation ...... 7-1 7.6 Forestry ...... 7-3 7.7 Hydroelectric Power Generation...... 7-3 7.8 Transportation ...... 7-3 7.9 Tourism and Recreation...... 7-4 8. Tahltan Land and Resource Use ...... 8-1 References ...... R-1
iv RESCAN™ TAHLTAN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS (PROJ#1039-001-14/REV A.1) MAY 2010 TABLE OF CONTENTS
List of Figures
FIGURE PAGE
Figure 1.1-1. Location Map for Schaft Creek Project ...... 1-2
Figure 1.1-2. Schaft Creek Project Mineral Claims ...... 1-3 Figure 1.1-3. Schaft Creek Access Road, Mess Valley Option ...... 1-5 Figure 1.1-4. Schaft Creek Project Mine Site ...... 1-6 Figure 1.1-5. Schaft Creek Project - Skeeter Tailings Storage Facility ...... 1-7 Figure 2.1-1. Land and Resource Use Study Area ...... 2-2 Figure 3.1-1. Resource Management Zones ...... 3-8
Figure 5.1-1. Guide Outfitting Licences ...... 5-2 Figure 5.1-2. Heidi Gutfrucht, Guide Outfitter: Areas of Use ...... 5-3 Figure 6.1-1. Trapline Licences ...... 6-2 Figure 6.1-2. Ken Cottrell, Trapper: Areas of Use...... 6-5
Figure 7.5-1. Commercial Recreation Tenures ...... 7-2
List of Tables
TABLE PAGE
Table 1. Land Use Interests Related to the Proposed Schaft Creek Project ...... i Table 3.1-1. Access Management Objectives ...... 3-2 Table 3.1-2. Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Management Objectives ...... 3-2 Table 3.1-3. Botanical Forest Products and Medicinal Plants Management Objectives ...... 3-3
Table 3.1-4. Cultural Heritage Resources Management Objectives ...... 3-4 Table 3.1-5. Fish/Wildlife Harvesting Management Objectives ...... 3-4 Table 3.1-6. Mineral/Energy Resources Management Objectives ...... 3-5 Table 3.1-7. Recreation and Tourism Management Objectives ...... 3-5 Table 3.1-8. Settlement, Agriculture and Range Management Objectives ...... 3-6 Table 3.1-9. Timber Management Objectives ...... 3-6
Table 3.1-10. Visual Quality Management Objectives ...... 3-7 Table 3.1-11. Management Objectives for the Middle Iskut Zone ...... 3-7 Table 3.2-1. Bob Quinn Rural Planning Area Zoning Designations ...... 3-9
COPPER FOX METALS INC. v SCHAFT CREEK PROJECT: LAND AND RESOURCE USE BASELINE
Table 5.3-1. Grizzly Hunting Statistics (WMU 6-21): Five-Year Averages, 1981-2005...... 5-8 Table 5.3-2. Sheep Hunting Statistics (WMU 6-21): Five-Year Averages, 1981-2005 ...... 5-9 Table 5.3-3. Goat Hunting Statistics (WMU 6-21): Five-Year Averages, 1981-2005 ...... 5-9
Table 5.3-4. Moose Hunting Statistics (WMU 6-21): Five-Year Averages, 1981-2005 ...... 5-10 Table 6.1-1. Registered Traplines ...... 6-1
vi RESCAN™ TAHLTAN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS (PROJ#1039-001-14/REV A.1) MAY 2010 SCHAFT CREEK PROJECT: LAND AND RESOURCE USE BASELINE
Glossary and Abbreviations
Glossary and Abbreviations
BCTC BC Transmission Corporation
GMD General Management Direction
FSR Forest Service Road
ILMB Integrated Land Management Bureau (Government of BC)
ILRR Integrated Land and Resource Registry
LRMP Land and Resource Management Plan
NTL Northwest Transmission Line (propose d)
RMZ Resource Management Zone
COPPER FOX METALS INC. vii SCHAFT CREEK PROJECT: LAND AND RESOURCE USE BASELINE
1. Introduction
1. Introduction
This report summarizes the existing land and resource use activities and values in the vicinity of the Schaft Creek Project, including land management strategies and both tenured and non-tenured activities.
1.1 SCHAFT CREEK PROJECT SUMMARY Copper Fox Metals Inc. (Copper Fox) is a Canadian mineral exploration and development company focused on developing the Schaft Creek deposit located in north-western British Columbia, approximately 60 km south of the village of Telegraph Creek (Figure 1.1-1). The Schaft Creek deposit was discovered in 1957 and has since been investigated by prospecting, geological mapping, geophysical surveys as well as diamond and percussion drilling. The deposit is situated within the upper source regions of Schaft Creek, which drains northerly into Mess Creek and onwards into the Stikine River. The Stikine River is an international river that crosses the US/Canadian border near Wrangell, Alaska. The Schaft Creek deposit is a polymetallic (copper-gold-silver-molybdenum) deposit located in the Liard District of north-western British Columbia (Latitude 57 o 22’ 42’’; Longitude 130 o, 58’ 48.9”). The property is comprised of 40 mineral claims (Figure 1.1-2) covering an area totalling approximately 20,932 ha within the Cassiar Iskut-Stikine Land and Resource Management Plan.
The Schaft Creek Project is located within the traditional territory of the Tahltan Nation. Copper Fox has been in discussions with the Tahltan Central Council (TCC) and the Tahltan Heritage Resources Environmental Assessment Team (THREAT) since initiating exploration activities in 2005. Copper Fox will continue to work together with the Tahltan Nation as work on the Schaft Creek Project continues.
The Schaft Creek Project entered the British Columbia EA process in August 2006. Although a formal federal decision has not yet been made, the Project will likely require federal approval as per the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act . Copper Fox has targeted the third quarter 2010 for submission of their Schaft Creek EA Application.
The current mine plan would see ore mined from an open pit at a rate of 100,000 tonnes per day. The mine plan includes 812 million tonnes of Measured and Indicated Mineable resources providing for an estimated 23 year mine life. The Project is estimated to generate up to 2,100 jobs during the construction phase and approximately 700 permanent jobs during mine operations.
The deposit will be mined with large truck/shovel operations and typical drill and blast techniques. The ore will be crushed, milled and filtered on site to produce separate copper and molybdenum concentrates. The Process Plant will include a typical comminution circuit (Semi-Autogenous Mill, Ball Mill and Pebble Crusher) followed by a flotation circuit and a copper circuit with thickener, filtration and concentrate loadout and transportation. The Process Plant includes a designated molybdenum circuit with thickener, filtration, drying and bagging. A tailings thickener and water reclaim system will be used to recycle process water. The circuit will have a design capacity of 108,700 tonnes per day and a nominal capacity of 100,000 tonnes per day (36,000,000 tonnes per year). Approximately 293,000 tonnes of concentrates will be produced each year, which will be transported via truck to the port of Stewart, BC, for onward shipping to markets.
COPPER FOX METALS INC. 1-1 gis no. SCH-15-039 Job No.1039-001-01 November 16, 2009
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370000 380000 390000 FIGURE 1.1-2 Schaft Creek Project Mineral Claims SCHAFT CREEK PROJECT: LAND AND RESOURCE USE BASELINE
Copper Fox will construct an access road to the mine site (Schaft Creek Access Road; Schaft Road) to the 65.1 kilometre point (65.1km) of the Galore Creek Access Road (Galore Road). The Schaft Road will cover a distance of 39.5 km from the Galore Road to the Schaft mine site (Figure 1.1-3). Both the Galore and Schaft roads will be gravel roads with six meter wide driving surface. Pullouts and radio controls will be used to manage two-way traffic on the road. The Schaft Road will be a private road used to service the Schaft Creek mine.
The Galore Road is a fully permitted multi-use road; BC MOF Special Use Permit (S24637). The Galore Road is being constructed by Galore Creek Mining Corporation. Currently, Galore Creek Mining is only planning to construct the Galore Road to 40km while they review the current Galore Creek Project for which the road was to service. Copper Fox will engage Galore Creek Mining with respect to the completion of the Galore Road, and if necessary, arrange to transfer the MOF Special Use Permit to Copper Fox as the Schaft Creek Project advances.
The Galore Road connects to Highway 37 near Bob Quinn Lake. The total road distance from the Schaft mine site to Highway 37 is 105 km. The majority of the 39.5 km Schaft Road is within the Mess Creek watershed. In order to avoid geohazards along the Mess Creek valley, the Schaft Road will cross Mess Creek twice (Figure 1.1-3). Mess Creek is considered navigable per Transportation Canada criteria.
After crossing Mess Creek at the north end of the Schaft Road (32.5 km), the route rises up the side of Mount LaCasse crossing Shift Creek (10 m bridge) and Big B Creek (10 m bridge). The route terminates at Snipe Lake (39.5 km). Conventional 30-tonne trucks will be used to transport concentrate from the mine site to the Bob Quinn area along the Schaft and Galore roads. From Bob Quinn to Stewart, convention B-train commercial truck haulage can then be utilized along Highway 37 and 37A. There will be 30 concentrate trucks along this route over a 24 hour period, seven days per week.
Electrical power to the mine site will be provided via a 138 kV transmission line, extending from Bob Quinn Lake to the Project along the proposed corridor for the Galore and Schaft roads. The proposed transmission line assumes that electrical power will be supplied from British Columba Transmission Corporation’s (BCTC) proposed new 287 kV Northwest Transmission Line from a point near Bob Quinn Lake.
The Schaft Pit will encompass an area of 4.9 km 2 at the end of the mine life (Figure 1.1-4). The Pit will extend 330 m below the current elevation (520 masl). An ore stockpile and crusher will be located between the Pit and Schaft Creek. Crushed ore will be conveyed to the Plant site on the saddle just east of the Pit. Tailings from the Process Plant will be piped to the Skeeter Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) as a slurry (55% solids).
Over the life of the mine the Project will generate over 812 million tonnes of tailings, which will be managed in the Skeeter TSF. The TSF will not span the low relief watershed divide between Skeeter and Start watersheds. The Skeeter TSF will require three embankments to contain the tailings generated over the life of the mine (Figure 1.1-5). Based on average climatic conditions, the TSF will have a positive water balance. Discharge from the TSF will be to Skeeter Creek.
The Project will generate an estimated 1,547 million tonnes of waste rock. Waste rock dumps are proposed around the perimeter of the Schaft Pit, with the majority of the material being placed on the east side of Schaft Creek (Figure 1.1-4). The current plan assumes the waste rock will be non-acid generating and will not leach metals at or near neutral pH. The plan is subject to change as work progresses on the metal leaching and acid rock drainage program.
1-4 RESCAN™ TAHLTAN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS (PROJ#1039-001-14/REV A.1) MAY 2010 gis no. SCH-15-037 Job No. 1039-001-01 November 30, 2009
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Source: Knight Piésold Consulting Note: This layout represents the tailings storage facility in the final years of operation prior to closure. Several years before the end of FIGURE 1.1-5 operations and closure, the tailings deposition pattern will be modified to relocate the supernatant pond towards the north of TM the facility, where a permanent spillway will be constructed in the west abutment of the North Embankment. Schaft Creek Project - Skeeter Tailings Storage Facility INTRODUCTION
The Project will be a fly-in, fly-out operation, and a new airfield capable of handling a Boeing 737 will be constructed to the east of the Pit. The preliminary design includes a 1,600 m compacted gravel landing strip, terminal building, fuelling facilities, small maintenance facility and control and lighting systems.
A permanent camp will be constructed to support approximately 700 employees. Other facilities include a truck shop, warehouse, administration, maintenance laboratory, explosive storage, water treatment facilities and potable water storage.
1.2 REGIONAL CONTEXT The proposed Schaft Creek Project is located in the northwestern British Columbia, within the asserted territory of the Tahltan Nation. The study area is remote, largely undeveloped, and difficult to access. The area is rich in mineral resources, although mineral development is limited by factors such as distance to market, a lack of established infrastructure, and the challenges of access. Highway 37, running north-to-south from Kitwanga to the Alaska Highway, is the main corridor for land-based access; most communities and services are located along this route.
The nearest community is Telegraph Creek, a Tahltan village of approximately 300 people on the Stikine River, approximately 60 km north of the Project. One of the most remote communities in BC, Telegraph Creek is connected to Dease Lake and Highway 37 by an unpaved rural road. Telegraph Creek, other communities, and the Tahltan Nation are discussed in the Schaft Creek Project Socio- Economic Baseline Report (RESCAN 2010).
The economy of northwest BC is largely driven by resource sectors, including mining and mineral exploration. The forestry sector is also important, although primarily based around the more southern communities of Smithers, Terrace, Burns Lake and Prince George. The communities closer to the Schaft Creek Project, such as Dease Lake, have not historically had a large reliance on forestry, and exhibit closer ties to mineral exploration and development (BC Stats 2009). The Eskay Creek mine accounted for a significant amount of regional employment, until its closure in 2008. At its peak, the Eskay Creek project directly employed approximately 350 people at the mine (approximately 30% of whom were members of the Tahltan Nation), while many more were employed indirectly providing supplies, transportation, and other services (MREPBC 2007). The economy of northwest BC is also described in further detail in the Socio-Economic Baseline Report (Rescan 2010).
1.3 LAND AND RESOURCE USE STUDY OBJECTIVES The Land and Resource Use Baseline Study will provide information needed to conduct an effects assessment in this area. As such, this report identifies current tenures, activities and interest groups related to the Schaft Creek Project, including:
o Hunting and trapping o Guide outfitting
o Tourism and recreation o Minerals and mining
o Water withdrawal o Camps and cabins
o Settlement o Parks and protected areas
o First Nations land use o Other activities
COPPER FOX METALS INC. 1-9 SCHAFT CREEK PROJECT: LAND AND RESOURCE USE BASELINE
Objectives include the determination of levels and areas of use, benefits gained, and patterns or changes over recent years. While the context of historical background of land use in the area will be provided (including both First Nations and non-Aboriginal use), this study will focus on contemporary (i.e. present-day) land use activities.
1-10 RESCAN™ TAHLTAN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS (PROJ#1039-001-14/REV A.1) MAY 2010 SCHAFT CREEK PROJECT: LAND AND RESOURCE USE BASELINE
2. Study Area and Methodology
2. Study Area and Methodology
2.1 STUDY AREA The land and resource use study area (Figure 2.1-1) encompasses the broadest area included in biophysical baseline studies for the Project; namely, the study area for terrestrial ecosystems. As a number of biophysical aspects are important components of land use activities – e.g. wildlife, fisheries, and edible plants – the use of the terrestrial study area accounts for potential overlap between studies.
Baseline data collection began with the identification of both tenured and non-tenured land users within the study area. This was completed through review of relevant land management plans, correspondence with government agencies, use of the BC government’s Integrated Land and Resource Registry (ILRR), and review of existing reports and publications related to the area.
These desk-based data sources were then enhanced through interviews and field investigations. Identified interest groups and land users were contacted; provided with background information about the Schaft Creek Project and baseline studies; and invited to participate. Interviews and mapping exercises were used to determine specific areas of use, levels of use/harvest (quantifiable, where possible), seasonal variances, and importance for livelihoods or other benefits.
Land use activities and values specific to the Tahltan Nation are addressed in Section 8.
2.2 METHODOLOGY A combination of secondary (desk-based) and primary (field-based) research was used to gather baseline land use information.
Secondary research included a review of relevant land management plans and other government publications, and a tenure search to identify people and businesses with various licences for land and resource use. Consultation with government agencies, local industry, and the Tahltan Nation also provided insight into land users and interests.
Potentially affected land users—such as trapline owners, guide outfitters, and commercial recreation ventures—were contacted to determine potential degrees of overlap between these land uses and the proposed Schaft Creek Project, and to identify what activities are pursued in the study area. Potentially affected tenure holders were contacted, although not all chose to participate in the baseline study at this time. These stakeholders will be kept informed of Project developments, and will be invited to participate in the consultation process throughout the environmental impact assessment and Application.
Interviews and other primary data collection were mostly conducted in the summer of 2008, after which baseline research efforts were suspended.
COPPER FOX METALS INC. 2-1 gis no. SCH-11-008 Job No. 1039-001-14 May 6, 2010
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3. Land Management
3. Land Management
This section describes applicable land management considerations, including those defined under the Cassiar Iskut-Stikine LRMP, the Kitimat Stikine Regional District, and relevant parks and protected areas.
3.1 CASSIAR ISKUT-STIKINE LRMP The Project is located within the boundaries of the Cassiar Iskut-Stikine Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP), which encompasses approximately 52,000 km 2 of northwestern BC. The LRMP was finalized in October, 2000, following three years of negotiations between First Nations, public and government representatives.
Three levels of management directions have been established for the LRMP area. Over the entire plan area, excluding protected areas, a set of General Management Directions (GMDs) provide management objectives and strategies for all natural resources and resource values. Additional objectives and strategies are specified for 15 area-specific Resource Management Zones (RMZs), reflecting the specific values of each RMZ (ILMB 2000).
There are also 14 protected areas within the LRMP, which are governed by a separate set of objectives and strategies. In general, no mining, logging, or hydroelectric development is permitted within protected areas (ILMB 2000). Protected area management is described further in Section 3.4.
3.1.1 General Management Directions The Cassiar Iskut-Stikine LRMP (ILMB 2000) specifies ten General Management Directions, which apply to all areas:
o Access Management o Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health
o Botanical Forest Products o Cultural Heritage
o Hunting, Trapping, Guiding, Fishing o Mineral and Energy Resources
o Settlement, Agriculture and Range o Recreation and Tourism
o Timber o Visual Quality
Strategies for the achievement of these objectives are provided in the LRMP.
3.1.1.1 Access Management Much of the Plan area is remote and inaccessible by road. With the exception of protected areas, this management direction seeks to manage access to meet the needs of land users, as long as ecological and cultural heritage values are respected (ILMB 2000). Management objectives applying to land-, water- and air-based access are summarized in Table 3.1-1.
COPPER FOX METALS INC. 3-1 SCHAFT CREEK PROJECT: LAND AND RESOURCE USE BASELINE
Table 3.1-1. Access Management Objectives Category Objectives Land-based • Keep impacts on wildlife habitat and sensitive ecosystem to a minimum during road construction and use. • Manage game populations by controlling hunting and fishing access, where required. • Maintain aesthetic quality of viewscapes and recreational features while providing opportunities for a range of recreation and tourism activities. • Conserve archaeological resources and heritage trails; minimize impacts on First Nations’ traditional use sites; and maintain the integrity and historic features of identified pioneer heritage sites. • Provide access for long-term resource management and economic development needs while minimizing impacts on environmental, social, cultural heritage and wildlife habitat values; and commercial activities. • Avoid adverse impacts to sensitive terrain due to road construction and use. Water-based • Maintain the remote quality of identified lakes and rivers by restricting motorized recreational boat use, where required. Air-based • Minimize disturbance to wildlife (particularly Stone’s Sheep and mountain goat) due to aircraft use, particularly during sensitive periods. • Minimize disturbance to remote land- and water-based recreation and tourism activities due to aircraft use
Source: ILMB (2000)
3.1.1.2 Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health The LRMP area is noted to have a high diversity of plants, animals and other living organisms, supporting healthy populations of many species which may be threatened or endangered in other parts of the province (ILMB 2000). Notable features of the plan area include the large mammal predator-prey systems, and Coastal grizzly-salmon ecosystems in the Lower Stikine, Iskut and Unuk river valleys.
This management direction seeks to provide an environment containing the indigenous diversity of flora and fauna, including genes, species, and ecosystems at all levels of organisation, throughout the LRMP area. Table 3.1-2 summarizes management objectives for aquatic ecosystems and riparian habitat; endangered plants and animals; fire management; landscape connectivity; natural disturbance patterns and ecosystem representation; predator-prey systems; special landforms; and wildlife.
Table 3.1-2. Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Management Objectives Category Objectives Aquatic Ecosystems and • Improve and update information on aquatic and riparian biota and habitat. Riparian Habitat • Promote awareness and involvement of public and First nations in habitat management. • Maintain naturally-occurring aquatic biota. • Manage activities to achieve no net loss of fish habitat. • Conserve riparian habitat by minimizing disturbance of habitat features. • Maintain the integrity of watersheds with high fisheries values and domestic water use. • Identify and rehabilitate/enhance fish populations and habitat. • Maintain water quality and quantity within the natural range of variability.
(continued)
3-2 RESCAN™ TAHLTAN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS (PROJ#1039-001-14/REV A.1) MAY 2010 LAND MANAGEMENT
Table 3.1-2. Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Management Objectives (completed) Category Objectives Endangered Plants and • Maintain habitats of rare, threatened and endangered animals, plants and plant Animals communities. • Implement conservation measures when trapping, hunting or fishing blue-listed species. • Maintain habitat and minimize disturbance for: - Fisher - Raptors - Trumpeter Swans - Bull Trout Fire Management • Manage fires to minimize damage to people and property, while allowing natural disturbance processes to occur. • Enhance habitat consistent with natural disturbance patterns through prescribed burning. Landscape Connectivity • Maintain contiguous areas of functional habitat creating an interconnected network of ecosystems and key wildlife habitat. Natural Disturbance • Maintain seral and patch size distributions of forests consistent with natural disturbance Patterns / Ecosystem types. Representation • During forestry activities, retain natural characteristics at the stand level. Predator-Prey Systems • Maintain natural predator-prey systems. • Maintain large areas of contiguous habitats at the landscape, sub-regional and regional scales for large mammal predator-prey systems. Special Landforms • Minimize impacts of motorized activities on plateaus and their habitats. (Plateaus) • Maintain connectivity for wildlife between plateaus and adjacent plateaus and mountain ranges. Wildlife • Maintain habitat to support healthy wildlife populations. • Manage development/access to conserve important habitat features and wildlife populations. • Maintain high value habitat and the functional integrity of seasonal ranges for: - Moose - Caribou - Stone’s sheep and mountain goat - Grizzly bear - Marten • Minimize bear/human conflicts and disruption of bear habitat.
Source: ILMB (2000)
3.1.1.3 Botanical Forest Products and Medicinal Plants A variety of botanical forest products within the plan area provide for both commercial and sustenance use; including mushrooms, berries and medicinal plants. Objectives for the management of these products are summarized in Table 3.1-3.
Table 3.1-3. Botanical Forest Products and Medicinal Plants Management Objectives Category Object ives Botanical Forest Products • Maintain pine mushroom growing sites with integrated forest management. and Medicinal Plants • Maintain opportunities for sustainable harvesting of other species of mushroom. • Maintain accessible berry-producing areas across the landscape through time. • Maintain opportunities for the sustainable harvesting of medicinal plants. • Maintain opportunities for sustainable harvesting of other botanical forest products.
Source: ILMB (2000)
COPPER FOX METALS INC. 3-3 SCHAFT CREEK PROJECT: LAND AND RESOURCE USE BASELINE
3.1.1.4 Cultural Heritage Resources The rich heritage of the area is noted in the LRMP, including historical and contemporary use by First Nations and non-Aboriginal people. Recognized heritage resources include archaeological sites, First Nations traditional use sites, and non-Aboriginal ( e.g. pioneer) historic sites. Management objectives for cultural heritage resources are summarized in Table 3.1-4.
Table 3.1-4. Cultural Heritage Resources Management Objectives Category Objectives Cultural Heritage Resources • Conserve archaeological resources. • Minimize the impact of development on First Nations’ traditional use sites. • Conserve heritage trails (including the Klastline Trail and the Telegraph Trail). • Maintain the integrity and historic features of pioneer heritage sites.
Source: ILMB (2000)
3.1.1.5 Hunting, Trapping, Guide Outfitting and Fishing Hunting, trapping and fishing activities are recognized for their sustenance, recreation, cultural and economic significance for both First Nations and non-Aboriginal residents; including those from local communities, as well as from outside the plan area. Guide outfitting operations also bring important economic and employment benefits for local and regional economies (ILMB 2000).
Fish and wildlife resources are managed by the provincial government, to conserve maintain viable and sustainable populations. After conservation goals have been met, the harvestable surplus is available to First Nations and non-Aboriginal hunters, trappers and anglers. Management objectives for fish, game and furbearer populations (and harvests) are summarized in Table 3.1-5.
Table 3.1-5. Fish/Wildlife Harvesting Management Objectives
Category Objectives Hunting, Trapping, Guide- • Manage game wildlife populations to be a sustainable renewable resource. Outfitting and Fishing • Maintain opportunities for local, resident and non-resident hunting. • Maintain opportunities for First Nations subsistence and traditional use hunting. • Maintain furbearer populations to be a sustainable renewable resource. • Provide and maintain commercial opportunities for hunting, fishing and trapping. • Manage wild and enhanced salmon (and other wild fish stocks) to be a sustainable and renewable resource. • Maintain opportunities for local, resident and non-resident fishing. • Maintain opportunities for First Nations subsistence and traditional use fishing.
Source: ILMB (2000)
3.1.1.6 Mineral and Energy Resources Globally-significant mineral and energy resources are recognized within the LRMP area, which includes over 30 developed prospects, and several past producers (ILMB 2000). The most recent mineral operation – the Eskay Creek gold-silver mine – finished mining in March, 2008 (Barrick 2008). Energy resources include significant potential for natural gas, petroleum, coal and coal-bed methane (ILMB 2000).
3-4 RESCAN™ TAHLTAN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS (PROJ#1039-001-14/REV A.1) MAY 2010 LAND MANAGEMENT
The LRMP supports exploration and development in the area (excluding protected areas), including the development of access roads; and attempts to reduce uncertainty for industry and investment (ILMB 2000). Any activities are subject to any applicable environmental review processes. Management objectives for mineral and energy resources are summarized in Table 3.1-6.
Table 3.1-6. Mineral/Energy Resources Management Objectives
Category Objectives Mineral and Energy • Provide a secure land base to support exploration and development of mineral and energy Resources resources. • Provide opportunities for appropriate access for exploration and development. • Ensure security of mineral and energy resource tenures. • Minimize impacts to the land base and meet environmental regulatory standards. • Improve understanding of geological resources. • Increase public knowledge and enjoyment of geological and energy resources. • Promote mineral- and energy-related business, services and job opportunities that have economic/employment benefits for present and future generations.
Source: ILMB (2000)
3.1.1.7 Recreation and Tourism The LRMP area is noted for its “world-class tourism opportunities” (ILMB 2000), including backcountry exploration, fishing, wildlife viewing, scenery and Aboriginal culture. Objectives in other categories – including biodiversity, visual quality and cultural heritage – also relate to recreation and tourism. Specific management objectives are summarized in Table 3.1-7.
Table 3.1-7. Recreation and Tourism Management Objectives
Category Objectives Recreation and Tourism • Identify opportunities for tourism and recreation development. • Provide a secure land base to support environmentally- and culturally-sensitive development. • Manage natural, cultural and recreation resources in front- and back-country areas to support world class wilderness tourism opportunities. • Retain the natural character of high-value recreation features during access design and management • Promote development of locally-based, viable tourism opportunities consistent with long term tourism goals for the area. • Maintain or increase opportunities for local recreational use. • Promote mining-based recreation and tourism activities (including tours of local operations).
Source: ILMB (2000)
3.1.1.8 Settlement, Agriculture and Range The plan area is noted to be isolated and sparsely populated, and includes settlement around the communities of Telegraph Creek, Iskut and Bob Quinn. The community of Dease Lake lies just outside the northern boundary of the LRMP.
Small-scale agricultural production is generally limited to fluvial terraces of the Stikine River valley, between the Tuya and Chutine Rivers ( i.e. , approximately 30 km on either side of Telegraph Creek). Range land primarily accommodates horse grazing for guide outfitters.
COPPER FOX METALS INC. 3-5 SCHAFT CREEK PROJECT: LAND AND RESOURCE USE BASELINE
Table 3.1-8. Settlement, Agriculture and Range Management Objectives
Category Objectives Settlement • Provide Crown lands for residential, commercial and industrial development within the settlement areas identified in existing community plans, rural land use by-laws, etc . • Maintain visual quality from the communities of Dease Lake, Telegraph Creek and Iskut. Agriculture • Provide opportunities for small-scale farming. Range • Provide for livestock grazing needs on Crown land. • Reduce potential conflicts between agriculture/range use and wildlife. • Avoid spread of disease from domestic livestock to wildlife. • Maintain the integrity of rare and endangered plant communities while providing ongoing Crown range use. • Maintain water quality in areas with agriculture and range use. • Reduce and – where possible – eradicate invasive weed species that pose a risk to wildlife habitat and range lands.
Source: ILMB (2000)
3.1.1.9 Timber Less than two percent of the total LRMP area is considered suitable for timber harvesting, due to extensive alpine and subalpine areas with low timber volumes. The majority of harvestable stands are located around Bob Quinn Lake and the Klappan. Management objectives consider opportunities for timber harvest, while maintaining other values (including biodiversity, wildlife habitat, and tourism/recreation); objectives are summarized in Table 3.1-9.
Table 3.1-9. Timber Management Objectives
Category Objectives Timber • Produce a long term, secure and sustainable supply of timber that is economically-feasible and will benefit the local economy. • In managing timber, apply principles of ecosystem management at the landscape unit and stand level. • Provide opportunities for forest management and harvesting in order to generate local economic benefits over the long term. • Maintain opportunities for public review of forest management plans. • Maintain the health and productivity of the forest resources through forest health and salvage operations.
Source: ILMB (2000)
3.1.1.10 Visual Quality The LRMP notes that the plan area is “renowned for its scenic beauty” (ILMB 2000), with a number of distinct scenic areas visible from communities, travel corridors and other important areas. Aesthetic values are emphasized to support tourism, recreation and quality of life. Most visual quality objectives have been designed to mitigate forestry-related activities, and the LRMP recognizes that it is not always possible to carry out mining (and other activities) to meet the same standards of visual quality (ILMB 2000). Management objectives are summarized in Table 3.1-10.
3-6 RESCAN™ TAHLTAN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS (PROJ#1039-001-14/REV A.1) MAY 2010 LAND MANAGEMENT
Table 3.1-10. Visual Quality Management Objectives
Category Objectives Visual Quality • Maintain scenic values and provide increased opportunities to view scenic landscapes in areas of importance to First Nations, communities, tourism and recreation. • Design forest management and other resource management/development activities to reflect the importance of known scenic areas. • In non-forested areas, design development activities to reflect the importance of visual quality.
Source: ILMB (2000)
3.1.2 Area-Specific Management The LRMP identifies 15 resource management zones (RMZs) for area-specific management direction (Figure 3.1-1). The southeastern part of the land use study area overlaps with the Middle Iskut RMZ (ILMB 2000). Table 3.1-11 summarizes the management directions for this zone.
Table 3.1-11. Management Objectives for the Middle Iskut Zone
Category Objectives Minerals Follows the General Management Directions Timber Minimum 100 m reserve (i.e., no-harvest) zone along the Iskut River. (This reserve zone applies to forestry activities, but not mining.) Access Restrict new roads/public access west of the Iskut River, using river crossings as control points. Encourage the location of main forestry haul roads as far from the Iskut River as feasible. Visual Preserve viewscapes from Highway 37, Devil Lake, and the navigable portions of the Iskut River. From Highway 37, landscape alterations may be visible, but not apparent. From the Iskut River, alterations should be difficult to distinguish. Fish and Wildlife Follows the General Management Directions. If an access road is constructed to Devil Lake, monitor fish populations and take action to prevent overfishing. Recreation and Tourism Provide opportunities for front-country tourism at Devil Lake.
Source: ILMB (2000)
The Middle Iskut RMZ boundary is approximately 25 km from the proposed Schaft Creek mine site and/or access road. Project components located within this RMZ include Highway 37, the Galore Creek Access Road, and the airstrip at Bob Quinn Lake.
The Middle Iskut zone covers approximately 176,000 ha and includes a significant portion of the LRMP’s timber harvesting land base. Management directions for this zone reflect the importance of riparian habitat, and protect a minimum 100 m no-harvest zone along the Iskut River. Riparian habitat in this area is also valued as a transitional ecosystem between the Interior Coastal Hemlock and northern boreal forests.
This zone also includes Highway 37, which is recognized for its importance to tourism traffic. The highway and other roads provide access to local water bodies (including the Iskut River) for various recreational opportunities. Activities include kayaking, rafting, hiking and canyoning, as well as camping at Devil Lake (approximately 3.5 km south of the Galore Creek Access Road, and 2.2 km west of Highway 37) and visiting the Iskut Hot Springs Provincial Park (discussed further in Section 3.4.2). Riparian habitat is also protected to ensure sustainability of recreational values along the river.
COPPER FOX METALS INC. 3-7 gis no. SCH-11-007 Job No. 1039-001-14 May 6, 2010
350000 375000 400000 425000
Telegraph Creek Com. Watershed Klastline River 6425000 6425000 ± Telegraph Creek (!
Mess Creek Modade-Nuttlude Lake Chain
Chutine
6400000 Mount Edziza 6400000 Provincial Park Edziza
Iskut Lakes
Kinaskan Lake Provincial Park
6375000 Todagain6375000 Schaft Project Location ut37
Lower Stikine- Iskut 6350000 6350000
Middle Iskut/ Hwy 37
Iskut River Hot Springs Park
Galore Creek Protected Area Access Road Existing Protected Access Road 6325000 6325000 New Protected Site Road General Management Pit Bob Quinn (! Lake Resource Waste Rock Dump Management Zone Tailings Storage Land and Resource Use Study Area Other infrasctructure 1:600,000 0 12.5 25
6300000 Kilometres 6300000 Projection: UTM9, NAD83
350000 375000 400000 425000 Resource Management Zones, FIGURE 3.1-1 Cassiar Iskut-Stikine LRMP LAND MANAGEMENT
The Middle Iskut zone includes requirements for restricted public access to the west side of the Iskut River, employing river crossings as access control points. It also specifies that viewscapes be preserved.
3.2 RURAL LAND USE BYLAWS Development at Bob Quinn Lake is governed by the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine rural area bylaws (RDKS 1992). This planning document recognises the economic potential of the Bob Quinn area as “ a strategic location for staging of resource extraction activities ” (RDKS 1992). In general, the rural land use bylaws discourage scattered development along Highway 37.
All land in the Bob Quinn Lake area is designated as a temporary permit area, whereby the Regional District may issue permits subject to the following criteria (RDKS 1992):
o The land is suited to the use intended;
o There would be no significant conflicts of temporary uses with existing and proposed future use;
o The natural environment shall not be adversely affected to any significant extent (including sensitive fish and wildlife habitat areas);
o Traffic flows and drainage shall not be adversely affected;
o The land is suitable for the water and sewage disposal requirements of the intended use; and
o Temporary permits shall be subject to the technical referral process, and negative concerns shall be satisfactorily rectified.
Table 3.2-1summarizes the applicable zoning designations and permitted uses in the Bob Quinn rural planning area.
Table 3.2-1. Bob Quinn Rural Planning Area Zoning Designations Designations Permitted Land Uses
Light Industrial (I-1) Repair, processing, small-scale manufacturing, wholesaling, assembly, storage, aviation, and directly related uses including sales of fuel, industrial services, utilities, and expediting or warehouse use. Does not include manufacture or bulk storage of explosives or hazardous materials. Heavy Industrial (I-2) Large-scale manufacturing or processing facilities such as sawmills, log sort yards, log processing or chipping facilities, mines, ore processing plants, and large-scale storage yards. General Commercial (C-1) Retail, rental, service or wholesale uses dealing with all forms of merchandising and recreation uses, including retail outlets, restaurants, motels, hotels, private recreational facilities, and gasoline service stations. Tourist Commercial (C-2) Commercial campgrounds, recreation vehicle sites, fishing and hunting lodges, tourism cabins, lakeshore facilities, and tourism commercial services. Single Family Residential (R-1) One single family dwelling or mobile home per parcel, and ancillary buildings, tot lots, play fields, and recreation areas. Mobile Home Park (MHP) Mobile home park, caretaker residence, ancillary storage, home occupations, tot lots, playfields, and recreation areas. Multiple Use (MU) Highway maintenance camp and uses ancillary to a highway maintenance camp, such as residential accommodations, light industrial and general commercial uses.
(continued)
COPPER FOX METALS INC. 3-9 SCHAFT CREEK PROJECT: LAND AND RESOURCE USE BASELINE
Table 3.2-1. Bob Quinn Rural Planning Area Zoning Designations (completed) Designations Permitted Land Uses
Airport (A) Aviation and ancillary uses including staging areas, aircraft parking areas, storage facilities for materials to be transhipped by aircraft, hangers, runway and grounds maintenance equipment garage, fuel dispensing and storage facilities, navigation and landing aids, and one caretaker’s residence. Resource Activities (W) Forestry, mineral or aggregate extraction, resource management, refuse sites, wilderness, open space, outdoor recreation, and fish and wildlife habitat. Recreation (WR) Parks, open space, outdoor recreational use, developed recreational improvements such as trails, public campgrounds, and picnic sites, and ancillary facilities directly related to outdoor recreation. Hazardous Lands (H) Open space, wilderness parks, and sensitive environment management and directly related activities.
Source: RDKS (1992)
3.3 PARKS AND PROTECTED AREAS The Project is located in proximity to the southwest corner of Mt. Edziza Provincial Park; while the access road runs close to the Iskut River Hot Springs Provincial Park (Figure 3.1-1).
3.3.1 Mt. Edziza Provincial Park Mt. Edziza Provincial Park is a remote wilderness area comprising over 23,000 km 2 of northwestern B.C., south of Telegraph Creek on the west side of Highway 37. The park is renowned for its unique and striking volcanic landscape, which includes lava flows, basalt plateaus, cinder fields and cinder cones. There are also a number of significant lakes and rivers, most of which flow north into the Klastine and Stikine drainages. In the south, the Spectrum range is a noted attraction for its brilliant red, yellow, white and purple rocks (MOE 2008d). The eastern extent of the Park, along Mess Creek, was officially incorporated into the Park in 2003 under the Stikine Country Protected Areas Management Plan (MWLAP 2003b).
Access to the park is limited. The recommended overland route requires transport across the Stikine River from Telegraph Creek, and roughly follows Mess Creek and the old Telegraph Trail, joining with the Buckley Lake trail at Buckley Lake. Additional overland trails include the Klastine River trail (from Highway 37, north of Iskut), and the Kinaskan-Mowdade Lakes trail from Kinaskan Lake provincial park. Trails in the park are noted to be unmarked and often overgrown (MOE 2008d).
Access can also be attained via authorized chartered aircraft. Four companies are currently permitted: North Pacific Sea Planes (Tatogga Lake), Pacific Western Helicopters Ltd. (Dease Lake), Canadian Helicopters Ltd. (Smithers), and Vancouver Island Helicopters Ltd. (Sidney). Horseback access to the park is also allowed, with a letter of permission from BC Parks (MOE 2008d).
3.3.2 Iskut River Hot Springs Provincial Park The Iskut River Hot Springs are located on the western bank of the Iskut River, approximately 15 km northwest of Bob Quinn Lake; and across the river from the proposed access road (Figure 3.1-1). The area has cultural significance to the Tahltan First Nation, and was given park designation following the recommendations of the Cassiar Iskut-Stikine LRMP.
Hot water is noted to weep into the river from its west bank in several areas, but there are no pools for bathing. Access to the six hectare park is limited, with no established trail and difficult foot access.
3-10 RESCAN™ TAHLTAN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS (PROJ#1039-001-14/REV A.1) MAY 2010 LAND MANAGEMENT
From Highway 37, prospective visitors face a six kilometre hike (or two kilometres from the Devil Lake FSR) through dense vegetation and over rough terrain, and must all cross the Iskut River (MWLAP 2003a). Access may also be gained by boat or helicopter (MOE 2008b).
3.3.3 Other Protected Areas Four other protected areas exist in the vicinity of the Project, but outside the land use study area. To the southeast is the Ningunsaw provincial park and ecological reserve, which protects a number of inter-related ecosystems and biogeoclimatic zones, from the Ningunsaw river valley, to the high alpine (MOE 2008e). To the north, the Stikine River provincial park connects the Mt. Edziza and Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness provincial parks; and includes the internationally-renowned Grand Canyon of the Stikine. Adjacent to Highway 37, south of Iskut, the Kinaskan Lake provincial park provides angling opportunities (Kinaskan and Natadesleen lakes) and camping facilities for highway travellers (MOE 2008c). On the east side of the highway, the Todagin South Slope provincial park (and adjoined wildlife management area), which protects habitat for local wildlife, including large game (MOE 2008g).
COPPER FOX METALS INC. 3-11 SCHAFT CREEK PROJECT: LAND AND RESOURCE USE BASELINE
4. Mineral Exploration and Development
4. Mineral Exploration and Development
Several clusters of mineral tenures overlap with the study area, including those in the vicinity of the proposed Schaft Creek Project, around the southern portion of the Mount Edziza Provincial Park, and north and south of the Galore Creek Access Road. The following sections summarize some of the main exploration and development activities currently underway in the areas.
4.1 GALORE CREEK The most advanced development in the area is the Galore Creek project (NovaGold Resources Inc., and Teck Corporation), a proposed copper-gold mine located southwest of the Schaft Creek Project (MEMPR 2010). Galore Creek received its environmental assessment approval in 2007, but activity was suspended later that year due to rising costs. Construction of the Galore Creek Access Road (the eastern portion of which would be shared with the Schaft Creek Project) has continued, and—as of January 2010—the road was serviceable to Kilometre 48, at which point it will cross upper More Creek (MEMPR 2010). The Galore Creek development plan is currently being redesigned, and would require a feasibility study and an amended Environmental Assessment Certificate prior to development (MEMPR 2010).
4.2 RED CHRIS The Red Chris project (Imperial Metals Corp.), another proposed copper-gold mine, is located 25 km south of Iskut. This project received environmental assessment certification in 2005. It has not started development, although exploration activities have continued.
Development of the Red Chris project has been challenged by the lack of a transmission line servicing the area, as well as legal disputes surrounding the federal environmental certification. The lack of grid electricity may be alleviated by the proposed Northwest Transmission Line (Section 5.4); while on January 21, 2010, the Supreme Court of Canada upheld the federal approval of the project (Imperial Metals 2010).
4.3 OTHER EXPLORATION PROJECTS South of the Schaft Creek Project are a number of properties in various stages of exploration and/or environmental assessment, including the KSM (Kerr-Sulphurets-Mitchell) gold-copper project (Seabridge Gold Inc.), which anticipates submitting an environmental assessment application in September 2010 (MEMPR 2010). Other exploration activities in the vicinity of the KSM project, include those at the Snowfield gold-copper and Brucejack gold-silver deposits (Silver Standard Resources Inc.); Mt. Dunn copper-gold prospect (Paget Minerals Corp.); Bronson Slope copper-gold (Skyline Gold Corp.); and Trek (Romios Gold Resources Inc.) (MEMPR 2010).
4.4 HISTORICAL EXPLORATION SITES Historical exploration sites identified in close proximity to Schaft and Mess creeks (Cottrell 2008, pers. comm .) are associated with the following operations:
o Hecla Mining: sites identified at the north end of Mess Lake and others in the area. Most infrastructure has been removed.
COPPER FOX METALS INC. 4-1 SCHAFT CREEK PROJECT: LAND AND RESOURCE USE BASELINE
o McLeod: a site located near Schaft Creek on the west side of Mt. LeCasse. Infrastructure has been removed, and may have been washed away in a seasonal flood.
o Utah Mining: camp at Utah Lake, near Mess Creek. The camp has been removed but a helicopter landing pad may remain.
None of these sites are known to be currently undergoing exploration or extraction. Historical exploration activity is also described in the Schaft Creek Project Description (Copper Fox Metals Inc. 2008).
4.5 NORTHWEST TRANSMISSION LINE In January 2010, the BC Transmission Corporation (BCTC) submitted an environmental assessment application under the BC Environmental Assessment Act. This project proposes to extend the 287 kV power grid to Bob Quinn Lake, where it could service new mine developments in the region. The project is being developed under a joint funding agreement between the governments of BC and Canada.
4-2 RESCAN™ TAHLTAN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS (PROJ#1039-001-14/REV A.1) MAY 2010 SCHAFT CREEK PROJECT: LAND AND RESOURCE USE BASELINE
5. Hunting
5. Hunting
The classification of hunting activities in BC is largely dependent on the residency of the hunter. Hunters who are not residents of BC must be accompanied by a registered guide outfitter. These outfitters have licensed tenures over a defined geographic area. However, provincial residents may hunt independently (pursuant to applicable regulations and limitations). 5.1 GUIDE OUTFITTING Four guide outfitting licences overlap with the land use study area (Figure 5.1-1). The licence held by Ms. Heidi Gutfrucht (Northwest Ranching & Outfitting) has the largest area of overlap with the Schaft Creek Project, comprising the mine site and the majority of the access road. The tenure held by Mr. Derek Drinnan (Misty Mountain Outfitters) includes the eastern 15 km of the access road and junction with Highway 37. The other two licences, held by Mr. Greg Williams (Golden Bear Outfitting) and Mr. Jerry Creyke (Kinaskan Lake Outfitters) overlap with the outer parts of the study area.
Any non-resident hunter ( i.e. , not a resident of B.C.) must employ the services of a guide outfitter to hunt in the province. Outfitting clients often come from across the United States and Europe, and typically pay thousands of dollars for remote hunts in northern B.C. Large game such as Stone’s Sheep, mountain goat, moose and grizzly bear are prized in the area.
As with many other tenures across the province, guide outfitting licenses are not exclusive, and may overlap with other land use rights including resource extraction. The following sections summarize the use and guiding/hunting activities of each outfitter, based on interviews conducted in 2008.
5.1.1 Northwest Ranching and Outfitting Heidi Gutfrucht has operated in the Schaft Creek and Mess Creek areas for around 30 years, guiding hunts for black bear, grizzly bear, moose, mountain sheep, mountain goat, and wolf (MOE 2009b). She is well known and respected in the guide outfitting industry (Thomas Jr. 2005). She has expressed a high degree of concern regarding the Schaft Creek Project (and mining in the area, in general) and potential detrimental effects on both the natural environment and on her livelihood.
5.1.1.1 Outfitting Activities Ms. Gutfrucht reported usage of all her licensed territory north of the Iskut River (Gutfrucht 2008, pers. comm .). She intentionally avoided the area south of the river, with the understanding that protection of this area would be to the benefit of the wildlife stocks in the broader region. With a livelihood dependent on wildlife stocks and environmental health, she makes an effort to manage her territory and conserve natural resources (Gutfrucht 2008, pers. comm .). In a typical year, Ms. Gutfrucht would run two sheep hunts in August, the first in the Coast range, and the second in the Spectrum range. This would be followed by approximately four moose hunts from mid-September to early October (Gutfrucht 2008, pers. comm .). Ms. Gutfrucht has established a number of camps within her outfitting territory, although none of them have permanent structures (other than woodpiles and bear caches). She does not focus her activities in one area, but moves around regularly (Gutfrucht 2008, pers. comm .). Figure 5.1-2 provides a basic overview of Ms. Gutfrucht’s use of her outfitting territory, including the general locations of camps, access routes, and hunting areas. This map was developed through a combined interview/mapping exercise, which did not reference the propose Project components.
COPPER FOX METALS INC. 5-1 gis no. SCH-11-009 Job No. 1039-001-14 May 6, 2010
340000 360000 380000 400000 420000
(! Telegraph Creek 6420000 ± 6420000
CREYKE, Jerry 601025 6400000 6400000
Mount Edziza Provincial Park
6380000 Kinaskan Lake 6380000 Park
ut37
GUTFRUCHT, Heidi [ 600502
6360000 Schaft Project 6360000 Location 6340000 6340000
WILLIAMS, Gregory 601046 Iskut River Hot Springs Park DRINNAN, Derek 601001 [ Schaft Creek Project
Access Road
6320000 Bob Quinn 6320000 Lake Guide Oufitting Boundary (! Study Area Boundary
Protected Area 1:550,000 0 10 20 Ningunsaw Kilometres Provincial Park
Projection: UTM 9, Nad83 © Department of Natural Resources Canada. All rights reserved. 6300000 6300000 340000 360000 380000 400000 420000 FIGURE 5.1-1 Guide Outfitting Licenses gis no. SCH-11-014 Job No. 1039-001-14 May 6, 2010 350000 360000 370000 380000 390000 400000 410000 420000 ± Telegraph Creek 6420000 6420000 6410000 6410000